Method for treating petroleum and other hydrocarbons.



C. P. DUBBS." METHOD FOR TREATING PETROLEUM AND OTHER HYDROCARBO'NS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. L916.

Q9,- X j Patented June 26,1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET I. E

C. P. DUBBS. METHOD FOR TREATING PETROLEUM AND OTHER H YDROCARBONS.

. I APPLICATION FILED NOV.2l. I916. mm w e Patented June 26,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented June 26, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

CLP. DUBBS. METHOD FOR TREATING PETROLEUM AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS.

N APPLICATION FILED NOV- 27. I916. mmw,

T vb Pu U C. P. DUBBS.

METHOD FOR TREATING PETROLEUM AND OTHER HYDROCARBONS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2:. 1916.

1,231,509. Patented June 26,1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- t cannon amines; or WILMET'IE, ILL'InoIs;

union;

lvinrnon non rnnn'rme PETROLEUM AND QTI-IERHYD'ROCARBONS;

To all whom it'may' concern: 1t known-that I, CARBON -P. DUeBs, a citizen of the United States, residing in -Wilmette, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements j in Method for Treating Petroleum and other Hydrocarbons, of- I which the following is a specification.

. [This invention relates 130,3; method for treating petroleum and other hydro-carbons to produce hydrocarbon products having I lower boiling points than those treated.

The invention contemplates' a method wherebycrude petroleum, petroleum distilla'tes, petroleum, residuum, or other like materi'alca'n be placed in the apparatus and g a gasolene' like product produced. Other gases generated back through the liquid.

treated can be 'convertedjinto the product desired; to provide a method wherein the- ,heat'units areutilizedrwiththe greatest efliciency; to provide a method in: {which a Objects of the ini-'entionare; 'to provide a process in which the oil being treated is F fractionally distilled and subjected to a cracking, breaking up, andtpolymerization' process to -convert heavier hydro-carbons or like substances into lighter, and then such changed 'or converted oil fractionally distilled as one uninterrupted process, and during such process, passing the vapors andv body and incidentally thereby reducing the amount of uncondensable gases and unsatu-" rated hydro-carbons; to provide a'method whereby more or'less of the hydro-carbon series of stills and chambers are employed and'in which the-hydrocarbons treated are subjected to progressively increasing 'te m r :peratures to provide a method in which the vapor. and gases are subjected. to progres-" siv'ely. decreasing temperatures, 'thevaporand gases being preferably allowed to per- 'colate up through; the variouschambersand' I'StillS; adva-ncinf'gffi'om vthose having "the higher "temperatures to those;.having the lower temperatures; to provide-1a, methodwherein the vapors, whether the condensable vapors 'or th e- 'uncondensa'bl-e liquid are caused'to; contact with-each'otheri in thetzones offre-action'; to provide a' proc f ess and method of ope'ratin'g which is racin ,The invention also resides in such features ateae t i l e as. shel era s e lee-b J features aswill described. a In thedrawings': v

gases, and the Specification of Letters Patent. I Patentgdl J 26,1Q1PI, Application filed Noven iber 21 1916; Serial No. 133,527.

more fully be hereinafter Figure 1 and Fig-1 is a diagrammatic I side elevation-of'an apparatus bywhich-my method can be carried out.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 2 'is a top plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is an enlarged side elevation,- partly in section of one of the heat interchangers.

.Fig. 4' is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of one of the stills.

Describing in detail the method with reference to the particular apparatus shown in tl1e.dr awings, A AF,A, At, A and A", it being understood any number of stills may be used,-designate the stills in which the treated are subjected-to the action of heat. G designates a heat interchanger, by which more or less of the heat contained in the petroleum or other hydro-carbons to be 3 is'o' line E to the heat interchanger G3; From I the latter heat interchanger the oil passes through the lines E to a series-of reflux conand then through lineE into the bottom of the still A the flow of the incoming charge of raw material beinfi shown by thearrows positionedadjacentt e-pipe E or any other combination of the apparatus may be used that will accomplish the desired results'ffor' instance, the raw materialmay-be pumped directly into the heat interchanger Gr and from there go. directly into ,the'bottom' of'any oif-ithe stillsi j a ithe raw' material iii'thestill A is heated to ilrive oif'the-.-vapors, the temperature de- 2 the uncondense'd vapors and gases pass.-

through the'pressui-e'regulated valve F and through the-line "H into heat interc'han'ger; G' fiand hom'there through the water con-' den-'ser' G into l-re'ceiving ..-tank K, suficie'ntf pres ra e gme inae Q1 i he t t force the distillate to any desired point and the gases generated to any deslred pomt.

The residuum remaining in still A overflows through pipe E and enters the bottom of still A which still is maintained at a higher heat, and the vapors and gases which are generated at the higher heat in this still A pass up through re ux condenser B the heavier vapors being condensed and returned to the still A while the lighter vapors and gases pass through vapor line H and pump X and discharged through pipe I-l into the bottom of the still A along with any condensed vapors, and percolate up through the oil contained in still A The function of the pumps shown at X X X, X being to force the vapors, along with any condensed portion of the vapors and ing condensable gases, down through pipe H and out through the erforations in this pipe, into the bottom of the stills and thus facilitate the operation; these pumps may be of the spiral or rotary type of standard design and be operated by belt or by any of the other well known standard methods. The pumps themselves do not necessarily create a pressure on the apparatus, but are primarily for overcoming the pressure exerted against the vapors in pipe H created by the height of the columns of liquid contained in the stills.

v The residuum remainin overflows through pipe E into still A at the bottom, still A being maintained at a higher heat than the preceding still A The vapors which are generated at the higher heat in still A along with the gases, then pass up through reflux condenser E, the heavier vapors being condensed and return to the still A, while the lighter vapors and gases pass through the line H and pump X to the bottom of still A? and are discharged along with any condensed vapors, through pipe Hcin the same manner as described with the preceding still.

The residuum remaining in still A overflows throu h pipe E into still A the-heat in this still einghigher'than in the preceding still. -The same cycle of operation is then carried out for each still of the series so that by the time the residuum reaches the last still of the series it will have been subjected'to progressively increasing temperatures until the desired amount has been converted into product desired. The residuum remaining in still A is drawn ofi' continuously or intermittently through the valve l5 through pipe E or through-valve shown on side of still near the top',' s uch residuum being passed through heat interchangers simi ar to G and thus preheating the incoming supply of raw material, such residuum is rerun through the apparatus, either with or without any previous treatment, or with "or without being mixed with otherrnaterial,

in the still- A It will be noticed that the raw material in passing through the apparatus forms a pool in each still and is subjected in the various stills to a progressively increasing temperature while the vapors and gases given 03 have not only been made to percolate up through the liquid and caused to mix with the liquid in the zones of re-action, but have also been caused to travel in the reverse direction from the liquid so as to be subjected to progressively decreasing temperatures. This arrangement permits the vapors and gases to be subjected to comparatively high and low temperatures without excessive pressure, while the vapors in their final form, as they pass to the condenser, have been scrubbed through the liquid and their temperature reatly reduced so that as they pass from the still A to the condenser, they are at a relatively low temperature to that to which they have been subjected in the farthest still.

This novel method of treatment will tend to prevent any heavy vapors, or such vapors which have not been sufficiently treated, from passing to the condenser since the stepdown in temperature, as the vapors and gases pass through the various stills toward the condenser, will tend to condense any heavy vapors and cause them to be carried back with the residuum and again subjected to the higher temperature. Another material advantage of this method of treatment lies in the fact that the vapors and gases being stepped down in temperature by percolating through the liquid in the successive stills having lower temperatures, the heat units which are extracted in ooolingthe vapors and gases are transmitted to the liquid which is traveling in the reverse direction and is stepping up in temperature.

While any desired method of heating the still may be employed such as the usual furnace, or internal electric heat, I have in the drawings shown the stills as designed to be heated by steam. In detail, the steam heating arrangement comprises the boiler I, and a plurality of super-heaters C C C C, C and C. The purpose of these superheaters is to permit the temperature in the various stills being independently regulated and maintained at the progressively higher temperature for the various stills. In operation, the steam is generated in the boiler I, and passes through the steam line J in the superheater C and from there passed through pipe J to the heat-ing coils T, which are located in each of the stills. The steam is discharged through the pipe J into the inlet manifold header W and then passes through the coils T to the outlet manifold W from which it passes to the super-heater 0 Here the steam may be reheated to secure any predeterminedtemperature for the still A Should the heat i further into the guarantee units given a up by the vapors andg gases percolatingthrough any still be sufficient .to\ maintain :the desired temperature in .that particular still, the steamcanbe byepassed entirely from such still or stills, .or partially by-passed by means -of partly or wholly closing valves 24, 25, 26, 27, 17 and 29, andpartly or wholly'opening valves 31, 32,33,34 and 35. .The purpose ofthe arrangement is to permit the independent regulation of the temperatures of any one or all of the stills, while utilizingtolthe highest degree, the heat unitsgiven up bythe vapors and gases being cooled from heating the liquid in the various stills.

After the steam has been utilized for heating, the various stills, its heatunits are conserved by transferring them incoming raw material by-means of one or more heat interchangers -G The operation of this heat .interchanger -G is as follows:

Steam is admitted through the pipe J into the inlet manifold header W from which it passes-through the pipes Y:to the outletheader W from which itfis returned throughv the pipe J to the boiler 11.

In addition to the heat interchanger G I preferably employ the .heat-interchanger G in which theheat units of the vapor and gases, as finally discharged from the still A are transferred to the incoming raw material. If a further cooling of the resultant vapors is necessary, a water cooler,:having a water inlet Z and water outlet Z is positioned around the portion of the pipe H leading to the distillate and gas receiving tank K, from .which the resultant product in both liquid and gaseous form are received and discharged-to their respective storages.

heat interchangers,

The reflux condensers are also utilized as heat interchangers in that the oil coming from the pipe E is discharged into.chamber surrounding the .pipes =U-(Fig. 4) of-the reflux condenser and then pass out through the pipe E near the :upper end. Thus the heat units extracted from ,the vapors are transformed to the incoming raw material. The apparatus, however, is preferably arranged so that any one or multiple of these reflux condensers can be used or by-passed. 'Also the vapor lines are so arranged that the vapors and gases can be-by-passed from any one or any multiple of-the refluxcondensers o1 stills. Also for convenience, in

repairing or for=other purposes, the apparatus should preferably be so constructed that any of the stills, heaters or. condensers can be by-passed without in any way afi'ecting the operation of the rest of=the apparatus, suitable valves being provided. Anynumber of stills, reflux condensers, condensers,

etc., can be employed.

In the normal operation of the-process,

' that the .all of-the parts areiused, that is,-none of the refluxcondensers and-none of the stills. are by passedor cutout of the system. In this condition the valves are arranged as :follows Valves 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 28, 20 and 23 are opened while valves 2, 4, 8, 10, 12, .14, 19, 21, 22 and 34 are closed. The body of oil being treated passes as follows: The oil enters reflux condenser B passes around the vapor pipes U in same, then out andthemthroughthe succeeding reflux eondensers, in like manner, and from last reflux condenser, the oil. enters still A through perforated pipe in bottom of still connected to pipe E, overflows through pipe E to perforated pipe in'still A and so 0n=through each succeeding still, and is drawn off from last still through valve F If it is desired that the oil ilo not pass through any reflux condenser, to prevent the oil getting too hot, as for example reflux condenser B valves 5 and 16 would be closed while valve 4 would be opened. If it is-desired that the oil flowing from one still to the next succeeding still enter the top instead ofthe bottom of the succeeding still, as for example enter the top of still A", then valve 13 would be closed and valves 11-and'12 opened, and the oil would then flow into and out of top of still.

The vapors generated in the different stills normally are passed up through the reflux condensers and then forced down and into the bottom of the next still through perforated pipe H, excepting still marked A the vapors from which are carried to condensers and then condensed and collected separately. Any of the reflux condensers may he Icy-passed, as for example reflux condenser B by closing valves '6, 3 and 20 and opening'va-lves 7 and 21..

As will be noted the oil normally passes from the main line E-to' each of the refluxers B to :B through branch pipes'E E in which are located the valves 5, 16 respectively. A corresponding branch pipe =15? leads from the main line-to the refluxer B and this refluxer may be bypassed from the circulating body of oil by closing the valve 5 and-opening the valve 4. Normally the valve 4 is closed and=the vale 5 is opened. Valve F aets the same as valve F when the vapors are not passed through 'reflux: condenser *B Atthis time the-valve H is opened;

'=From :the:above description .it will be apparent :that the raw material is 'first preheated by the heatlunits extracted in @001- ing'the heated vapors and gases, second,

material treated is progressivelysuhjected :to increasing temperatures-while maintaining anypdesired pressure on the vapors generated;- and :that the resultantl f vapors are caused to travel in th g direction, that is, through progressively decreasing temperatures, while caused to percolate up through through a portion of the apparatus having a lower temperature. The temperature to which the oil is heated may vary during the process from a minimum of 200 degrees F. to 500 degrees F. and from a maximum of 500 degrees F. to 2000 degrees F. The pressure may vary from a minimum of pounds to the square inch to a maximum of 1000 pounds to the square inch.

While I have shown and described a particular apparatus for method. the latter is not limited to use with the particular apparatus shown and de scribed. Also various changes in the details of construction, connections and operations of the apparatus can be made within the's'cope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A process of distilling petroleum to produce lower boiling point hydro-carbons, which consi ts in passing petroleum through a series of receptacles, subjecting the petroleum to progressively increasing temperatures in said receptacles, taking the vapors off from each receptacle, and passing them back through the body of the oil in a preceding receptacle in the reverse direction to the flow of the oil bypositively applied pressure, and during said distillation, maintaining a pressure in excess of 50 pounds to the square inch throughout the system, sufficient to convert a portion of the oil into lowerboiling point hydro-carbons.

2. A process of distilling petroleum to produce lower boiling point hydro-carbons,

which consists in passing the petroleum through a series of receptacles, subjecting the petroleum to progressively increasmg vap temperatures in said receptacles, taking the vapors ofi from said receptacles, and passing them back through the oil in the reverse direction to the flow of the oil by positively applied pressure and during said distillation, maintaining a pressure throughout the sufficient to convert a portion of the lower boiling point hydro-carbons, the'teniperature during such process varying from a minimum of 200 degrees Fahr; to 500 degrees Fahr. and the maximum 500 degrees Fahr. to 2000 degrees Fahr.

produce lower boiling point hydro carbons, which consists in passing the petroleum through a series of receptacles, subjecting the petroleum to rogressively increasing temperatiilfres in sai receptacles, taking'the ors o d ti 1 the 110W of the oil, by positively ing from a carrying out my from;

from said receptacles and passing them back through the oil in the reverse applied pressure, and during said distillation maintaining a pressure system, suflioient to convert a portion of the oil into lower boiling point hydrocarbons,

the temperature during such rocess varymiriimum of 200 egrees Fahr.

to 500 degrees Fahr. and the maximum from 500 degrees Fahr. to 2000 "degrees Fahr., the

pressure varying from a of 50 pounds to the square inch to a maximum of 1000 pounds to the square inch.

4 4. A process of treating hydro-carbon oil which consists in passing a body of oil through a plurality of heating zones of pre determined temperatures, subjecting the oil to increasing temperatures as it passes through the zones, collecting vapors from the various zones and returning them by paths,

other 1 than by the main path of the oil,

back to a-zone of lower temperature than that at which. they were formed, forcing these vapors to pass up through the body of oil in said zone of lower temperature and passing that portion of the vapor that is condensed in said zone of lower temperaturethrough a plurality ofheating zones of predetermined temperatures, subjecting the oil to increasing temperatures as it passes throughthe zones, collecting the vapors from each zone and Y returning them by paths, other than by the main path of the oil, back to the adjacent zone of lower temperature, forcing these vapors to pass up through the body of oil in said zone of lower temperature and passing that portion of the vapor that is condensed in said zone of lower temperature back through the flowing body of oil, to be again subjected to the higher temperatures, while the uncondensed vapors pass out of the-system and are condensed and collected, the oil during to a temperature varying from a minimum of not less than 200 F. to a maximum of not more than 2000 F.

6. A process of treating petroleum for obta n ng a product having a relatively low b01l1ng point which consists in'passing a I j a body of petroleum through a plurality of 3. A process of distilling petroleum to' pools in which said petro eum while under pressure is subjected to different temperatures, the unvaporized residue from the first pool overflowing into the adjacent pool of higher temperature, forcing the vapors arising in the last named pool to pass back through the body of petroleum contained in the first named pool, the portion of said va p'orshay nga boiling pointhigher than the 1 throughout the v back through the flowin' body of oil, to be temperature of the first named pool being condensed therein and passing with said J residue to the second named pool, and collower boiling point hydro-carbons consisting 1 v in collecting the oil in a plurality of pools and while under pressure subjecting the pools of oil to progressively increasing temperatures, continuously supplying the oil-to the pool of lowest temperature and conducting the overflow from .each pool to the pool of next higher temperature, condensing and collecting 'vapors arising from the pool of lowest temperature and forcing vapors arising from each of the other pools back, by

V paths other than the path of the oil in its passage from pool to-pool and into the lower portion of the body of oil in" the pool described.

8. A process for converting petroleum into lower' boiling point hydro-carbons consisting in collecting the. oil in a plurality of pools of next lower temperature, substantially as and while under pressure subjecting the pools of oil to progressively increasing temperatures, continuously supplying the oil to the pool of lowest temperature and conducting the overflow from each pool to the pool of next'higher temperature, condensing and collecting vapors arisin from the pool of lowest temperature an removing vapors from each pool, other than that of lowest temperature, passing them through a reflux condenser associated with the pool, returning the condensed products back to the pool and forcing the remaining vapors back through the pool of next lower temperature.

CARBON P. lDlUlBlBS. 

